Page 230 of His White Moonlight
How had his mind not changed when mine was starting to?
Grandma’s words repeated in my head.
He would try to persuade you so you’re willing.He wouldn’t do anything to cause you to reject him.
Was that what last night had been?A taste of how good it could be if I accepted him?
I wanted to go back to being ignorant.Back to when I thought I had no real interest in him.Just a little physical attraction.But I couldn’t go back to that self-delusion.I liked Bennett.His face.His moodiness.His absolute obsession with me.I feltwanted.Needed.For the first time in my life.And I didn’t want to walk away from that.But I didn’t want his need to trap me either.Not ever again.
With a sigh, I sat up and wrapped my arms around my bent knees.
So, how did I play this then?
Pretending it hadn’t happened wouldn’t work for either of us.Trying to pull away would only make him want to hold me closer.Did I…accept it then?The pull I felt to be with him?And then what?Would I find myself mated and pregnant before the start of the semester?No thanks.
Setting my chin on my knees, I reached for the ice pack and continued to ponder my options.
He’d stopped metaphorically holding me too tightly when I’d stopped resisting and had instead pointed out how much he was going to hurt me by being physical.Last night had proven he could control himself, though.
I thought back to his shaking and frowned.
Had he been holding on by a claw?
My phone rang.I glanced at Miranda’s name and answered.
“Good morning, my MBBF,” she said.
“Shouldn’t it be MBFF?My Best Friend Forever.”
“Please, I’m not that sentimental, Miranda’s Beautiful Bag Financer.”
I snorted.“That sounds about right.Why are you calling?”I glanced at the clock.It was about the time I normally got up for work.
“To see if you’re coming in today or if you want to play hooky.”
“Both.I’m coming to work to play hooky.Why?”
“Just checking.”
I narrowed my eyes.“Why?What’s going on?”
She hummed into the phone.“Your paranoia is cute.Are you going to tell me what happened that has you acting like that, and why Bennett wanted me to call you to see if you were going to work?Because my imagination is running wild, and I can’t wait to set my nose to you.”
“Thanks for the reminder to wash well.Pack running clothes.”
I hung up before she could say anything else and closed myself in the bathroom to scrub every inch of my skin without getting my arm wet.When I reemerged wrapped in a towel, my bed had been changed, and a fresh set of clothes waited for me.Professional clothes.
“Is there a reason for a pantsuit instead of more comfortable clothes?”I asked.
Bennett answered from the hallway.“Before lunch, Dad is going to announce the challengers, set the date and time, and say you won’t be there.Mom wants to take you out somewhere to lunch afterward so you’re not in the office.She suggested you wear something dressier, but wouldn't say where she planned to take you.”
I thought of the plans I’d made with Sophia and knew I’d need to cancel.With the announcement forcing those plotting against me to change their plans, I didn’t want to potentially put Sophia in danger.
“Is there another option than this one?It’s pretty, but I’m going to have a hard time going to the bathroom in a one-piece with the stitches still in.”
“There are more options.Do you want to see them?”
I could hear the hope in his voice, and I glanced down at the towel covering me.
